pineapple and hints of vanilla bean all come together nicely, and while it-s no lightweight on the palate, it stays fresh and clean. Made from 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne that spent 17 months in 30% new French oak, it will thrill over the coming couple of years.â

Owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin is the owner and only employee of Sans Liege Wines. After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coastâs most sought-after producers, Curt decided to go his own way. He has rapidly made a name for himself within the âCal-RhÃ´ne Communityâ as one of the hot new producers of Syrahs, Grenaches, Viognier and blends. His âGroundworkâ lineup represents one heck of a value, and the Sans Liege wines really showcase his abilities. Fermented in a combination of new and neutral oak barrels, this is a blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne from Alta Colina Vineyard, and the wine displays much of what makes the Alta Colina vineyard a mesmerizing site.
WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - âThe 2012 Call to Armas Alta Colina Vineyard is another full-throttle effort that does everything right. Ripe peach, mint, flowers, pineapple and hints of vanilla bean all come together nicely, and while it-s no lightweight on the palate, it stays fresh and clean. Made from 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne that spent 17 months in 30% new French oak, it will thrill over the coming couple of years.â

Owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin is the owner and only employee of Sans Liege Wines. After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coast's most sought-after producers, Read More...

Curt decided to go his own way. He has rapidly made a name for himself within the "Cal-Rhone Community" as one of the hot new producers of Syrahs, Grenaches, Viognier, and blends. His "Groundwork" lineup represents one heck of a value, and the Sans Liege wines really showcase his abilities.

The Cotes du Coast bottling is Curt's take on a white Rhone blend. Comprised of 54% Viognier, 19% Roussanne, 15% Grenache Blanc, and 12% Marsanne, the wine was fermented in both new and used French oak barrels.

Curt's Tasting Notes: "The mottled and boon-like light stretching through March cloud cover on the Oregon coast through a cozy open window: rubbed sage, orange zest, wet moss, peach blossom and a whisper of talc are supported by a quilt of cottage warmth: spice cake, brioche, dew heavy wind, night jasmine and rare pearl green tea. A surprise of cool joy that finds you pondering a permanent move to the country."

Owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin is the owner and only employee of Sans Liege Wines. After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coast's most sought-after producers, Read More...

Curt decided to go his own way. He has rapidly made a name for himself within the "Cal-Rhone Community" as one of the hot new producers of Syrahs, Grenaches, Viognier, and blends. His "Groundwork" lineup represents one heck of a value, and the Sans Liege wines really showcase his abilities.

The Alta Mesa block of the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard is in many ways the heart of Sans Liege, it is far-off, unknown and alluring. Aged for 22 months in new, once-used, and neutral French oak barrels, this is a dark, penetrating and dancing wine, and is a testament to the deep power the vineyard holds. We find scents of elderflowers, dessert sand, blackberry, and plum pie. Rustic and juicy at the same time, notes of clove, mint tea, and cherry are evident on the palate.

Owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin is the owner and only employee of Sans Liege Wines. After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coast's most sought-after producers, Read More...

Curt decided to go his own way. He has rapidly made a name for himself within the "Cal-Rhone Community" as one of the hot new producers of Syrahs, Grenaches, Viognier, and blends. His "Groundwork" lineup represents one heck of a value, and the Sans Liege wines really showcase his abilities.

The majority of this Grenache came from vineyards in the an area the Paso Robles locals call the Templeton Gap. This area benefits from the warm summer days, and the cooling winds that scream over the Santa Lucia Mountains and fan over this particular area. This smells of preserved cherries, Sandalwood, Ceylon tea, rose petals, cinnamon, Peaberry coffee bean and cognac, while the flavors are of chocolate, nutmeg, caraway, plum and mint.

Owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin is the owner and only employee of Sans Liege Wines. After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coast's most sought-after producers, Read More...

Curt decided to go his own way. He has rapidly made a name for himself within the "Cal-Rhone Community" as one of the hot new producers of Syrahs, Grenaches, Viognier, and blends. His "Groundwork" lineup represents one heck of a value, and the Sans Liege wines really showcase his abilities.

The Prophetess is a blend of some of Curt's most prized lots. To make this wine spectacular, Curt gives no preference to vintage. This is evident as the wine is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Mourvedre, of which 70% comes from the 2012 vintage and 30% comes from the 2011 vintage. He is blending fruit from some of the best vineyards in California's Central Coast, including Bien Nacido, Les Galets, White Hawk, Alta Mesa, and Alta Colina! The wine was aged from 22-34 months in a combination of new and neutral barriques.

Owner/winemaker Curt Schalchlin is the owner and only employee of Sans Liege Wines. After several years learning from and working for some of the Central Coast's most sought-after producers, Read More...

Curt decided to go his own way. He has rapidly made a name for himself within the "Cal-Rhone Community" as one of the hot new producers of Syrahs, Grenaches, Viognier, and blends. His "Groundwork" lineup represents one heck of a value, and the Sans Liege wines really showcase his abilities.

This is the "stepping stone" into the Sans Liege world of wines. The Transcendentalist is a multi-vintage blend from several distict vineyards in California's Central Coast, including Alta Mesa, Larner, Bien Nacido, White Hawk, Laetitia, Alta Colina, Watch Hill, Old Potrero, and Black Ridge. The wine is comprised of 46% Syrah, 41% Grenache, and 13% Mourvedre from the 2011, 2012, and 2013 vintages. The wine begins with aromas and flavors of chocolate covered cherries, elderflower liqueur, black licorice, soft maple candies, blood orange, Juniper berry, cinnamon bark, bergamot, nag champa and cherry hookah smoke. Robust and lush at the same time, this wine will only be here for a short amount of time!

In 2003, Linne Calodo's first vintage of Slacker was born and through 2010 continued to be a portfolio staple until they totally slacked and forgot to make it again. The ethos of Read More...

Slacker was always described by winemaker Matt Trevisan as, âwine representing not only the winemaker, but the idea that wines should be fun and relaxed.â Forever akin to the Slacker lifestyle, they decided to bring back the Slacker name in a much more appropriate way. Now its own label, Trevisan crafted two fun blends that showcase his ability to constantly keep creating and pioneering the exciting possibilities of the Paso Robles wine region.

The wines are sourced from Linne Calodo's Slacker Ranch and Oakdale Ranch, located in westside Paso Robles on clay loam and limestone-rich soils. A blend of 47% Syrah, 38% Grenache, and 15% Mourvedre, the 2012 Professional Slacker is a Hero wine. Delicate notes of cinnamon, allspice, and West Paso sage lead to a flavor explosion of bright plum encased in slightly toasted pie crust. The subtle acidity of this wine makes it refreshing and enjoyable in a variety of situations. Pull a cork at the end of a hard day; pull a cork to cheer up your SLACKER friends. This wine is anything but a SLACKER.

In 2003, Linne Calodo's first vintage of Slacker was born and through 2010 continued to be a portfolio staple until they totally slacked and forgot to make it again. The ethos of Read More...

Slacker was always described by winemaker Matt Trevisan as, âwine representing not only the winemaker, but the idea that wines should be fun and relaxed.â Forever akin to the Slacker lifestyle, they decided to bring back the Slacker name in a much more appropriate way. Now its own label, Trevisan crafted two fun blends that showcase his ability to constantly keep creating and pioneering the exciting possibilities of the Paso Robles wine region.

This bottling is a blend of both Spanish and French varietals; Tempranillo, Tannat, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. All the grapes come from the newly formed Willow Creek District within the westside of Paso Robles.

Just like the flavorful and refreshing Rieslings grown in Germany, these grapes are grown on steep cliffs, next to a river (in this case, the Columbia River). A cooler site due to Read More...

river influence, the soils are composed of fragmented basalt, gravel, silt, and caliche deposited during ice age floods. This site produces fruit with sublime mineral character and the acid balance that winemakers dream of. Aromatic, smooth, vibrant and tasty, this gem shows tangerine, pineapple, wet stone, key lime, clove and nectarine. This Kung Fu Girl kicks some serious butt for the money!

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "Clean, fresh and incredibly pure, the 2013 Charles Smith Riesling Kung Fu Girl is shockingly good given the price (and the volume, as they produce a massive amount of this cuvee). Lychee, citrus, mint and classic minerality all show here, and itâs medium-bodied, beautifully balanced and finishes cleanly, with perfectly integrated acidity and only subtle sweetness. Enjoy this rock star effort over the coming year or two."

the 2012 Spellbound Petite Sirah. The wine is crafted to unleash dark and luscious characteristics, while managing tannins to deliver an opulent and juicy Petite Sirah. This lush yet easy-drinking wine provides intense berry character, with superb texture you will fine in none other than Spellbound Petite Sirah."

ANTONIO GALLONI 93 POINTS - "Few people are as passionate about Ballard Canyon as Peter Stolpman is. As President of the Ballard Canyon Winegrowers' Alliance, Read More...

Stolpman is focused on bringing producers together to promote the area. To be sure, Ballard Canyon is a very distinctive region, especially for Syrah, so it will be interesting to see how things develop here in the coming years. As for his own wines, Stolpman's A-list team of winemaker Sashi Moorman and vineyard guru Ruben Solorzano keeps ratcheting up the quality level at the estate. In addition to these wines, I also tasted a few selections from the estate's library, including the 2004 Roussanne L'Avion, Syrah Estate and Syrah Angeli. Although those wines have aged pretty nicely, they also show just how far Stolpman has come in the last few years, especially with regards to cooperage. Simply put, these wines have never been better.

"Explosive and perfumed to the core, the 2012 Syrah Originals captivates all the sense with exuberant perfume and super-intense fruit, all with plenty of underlying structure. Cloves, lavender, mint and an array of spices inform the fragrant, highly expressive finish. The 60% whole clusters are impeccably balanced. This is a gorgeous showing from Stolpman."

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - 'In the same ballpark, the 2012 Angeli is 100% Syrah that comes from a single block of own rooted vines. It too is medium to full-bodied, rich and textured, with pretty violets, purple fruits, spring flowers and edgy minerality. Seeing 80% whole clusters and 18 months in puncheons, it has bright acidity and clean, nicely focused feel. It is another outstanding Syrah that will evolve for a decade."

Stolpman Vineyards lies on a rare outcropping of limestone in Santa Barbara's newly-established Ballard Canyon AVA. What makes Ballard Canyon so different from the rest of Santa Barbara Read More...

is that most of the valleys within the county are in an east/west orientation. Ballard Canyon, however, is north/south, which means the region is moderately sheltered from fog and winds. Ballard Canyon is warmer than the surrounding areas, but combined with the soils, this maked for an ideal location for Rhone varietals, such as Gyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Viognier. The Stolpman Vineyard has established itself as one of the prized vineyards in this region.

La Cuadrilla is Spanish for "the crew", and the proceeds from this wine go back to the farming crew. The core of the wine is harvested from the crewâs Cuadra, a vineyard block that Vineyard Manager Ruben Solorzano gives the crew each year to encourage proactive farming and decision making. Winemaker Sashi Moorman then blends more of the estateâs wine into Cuadrilla, ensuring the wine accounts for at least 10% of Stolpman's production each year. La Cuadrilla symbolizes the dedication at Stolpman to sustainable year-round employment rather than reliance on migrant labor.

A blend of 68% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 6% Petite Sirah, and 6% Sangiovese, this wine bursts on the scene with deep, dark Syrah aroma lifted with pure red berry Grenache notes. The touch of Sangiovese and Petite Sirah both lend a solid tannic backbone. In the mouth, the wine gains complexity from the youthful primary fruit flavors â baking spice and leather.

The backbone of T-Vine's Napa Valley Grenache, their most popular wine, comes from the old vines of the historic Frediani Vineyard. Established just after the San Francisco earthquake Read More...

in 1906, the old vines from the Frediani vineyard send their roots deep into the rich volcanic soil. Baked in the hot Calistoga sunshine, the few grapes that are given up by these old soldiers reach full maturity and develop all the deep mouthwatering flavors that are possible with the variety.

The trick with Grenache contradicts what all the winemaking textbooks teach as the standard. The general rule is that the longer you leave the fermenting wine in contact with the skins, the more flavor, body and color there will be in the wine. This doesnât hold true with the large Grenache grapes. If the grapes donât reach full maturity, the skin contact will just leach out tannin, which can make the wine astringent and bitter. It is more critical with Grenache than most varieties that the grapes reach full maturity. When they do, the color, body and flavors are released quickly. The combination of old vines, rich soils, heat and very small yields guarantee maturity and complexity in all of our vineyard sites.

The soils are so rich that the wines from this heavenly place ooze with deep cocoa, baked brownie lushness, combined with classic cigar box and pepper aromas. On the palate, ripe layers of raspberry, dark chocolate wild plums, apricots, and blackberries mingle with creamy oak and sassafras. This wine is seamless, with great fruit purity, soft tannins and acomplexity that draws you in for another taste.

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE91 POINTS - "Incorporating more Roussanne in 2012, the 2012 Esprit Blanc de Tablas checks in as 75% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc and 5% Picpoul Blanc, all of which was brought up in larger foudre. Light gold in color, it has a classic Roussanne pear, lemon curd, honeysuckle and white flower-like qualities to go with a medium-bodied, seamless profile on the palate. Starting out lively and fresh, it gains in stature and depth with time in the glass, so a decant is recommended if drinking soon. Iâd drink bottles over the coming 2-3 years, but it will have at least a decade of evolution."

ANTONIO GALLONI 93-95 POINTS - "A big, explosive wine, the 2012 Esprit de Tablas is warm and ample on the palate, very much in the style of the year, Read More...

yet there is plenty of power lying in reserve. In 2012, Syrah plays a larger role than in both the 2010 and 2011, which is felt in the wine broad, expansive personality. This is going to be a fascinating Esprit to follow over the coming years. Drinking window: 2015 - 2024."

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 91-93 POINTS - "While the 2010 and 2011 had plenty of Grenache, the 2012 Esprit de Tablas incorporates additional Syrah to compensate for the forward, supple nature of the vintage. A blend of 40% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah, 21% Grenache and the balance Counoise, this solid looking barrel sample has classic blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with plenty of licorice, violets and minerality. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and streamlined, with solid underlying tannic grip, itâs about as feminine an example of this cuvee as I can remember tasting. It should evolve well on its balance, but itâs not one to hide away either."

Tablas Creek's "Patelin" series of wines is very unique. There are several vineyards in the Paso Robles region that were planted with cuttings sourced from Tablas Creek's own selections Read More...

of budwood. Some of these vineyards had unclaimed grapes, and since the quality was high, Tablas Creek stepped in and began to produce this "hometown" bottling.

The Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc is a blend of four white RhÃ´ne varietals: Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The wine incorporates fruit from eleven top Rhone vineyards in Paso Robles, each vineyard selected for its quality. Like many white wines from the Southern RhÃ´ne, it is based on the crisp acids and rich mouthfeel of Grenache Blanc, with Viognier added for floral, tropical aromatics, and small additions of Roussanne and Marsanne for structure.

A blend of 54% Grenache Blanc, 25% Viognier, 13% Roussanne, and 8% Marsanne, The 2013 Patelin de Tablas Blanc shows fruity, floral aromas of honeysuckle, apricot and candied grapefruit, with a spicy mineral note emerging with air. In the mouth it's mouth-filling with peach and lemon zest flavors and a creamy texture, but kept fresh by vibrant acids. The finish is long, rich and clean, with lingering flavors of peach and mineral. Drink now and for the next 2-3 years.

Sean Thackrey is one of the most influential people in the Bay Area Food & Wine community, and has been for nearly three decades. Along with luminaries like Alice Waters and Kermit Lynch, Read More...

Sean Thackrey is deeply linked to the shaping of food & wine as we know it, and to this day represents many of the best and most ground-breaking practices in our industry.
Sean Thackrey has made this wine for years now and he's never about to reveal the true blend in this red but rumor has it that it's based on Sangiovese. He always releases this wine as a non-vintage, instead labeling them with Roman numerals. Full of mint, meat, blackberry and ripe mocha-like tannins.